Newcastle United want the same player again as January transfer window nears

Newcastle United’s injury crisis has hit the club hard in a number of areas - including the centre forward position. The Magpies are the top scorers in the division as a result largely of the goalscoring exploits of both Callum Wilson and Alexander Isak who have hit 13 Premier League goals between them this season.

However, their absence was felt hugely in their most recent clashes against Bournemouth and Borussia Dortmund as a jaded Newcastle team fell to a 2-0 loss in both matches, with Anthony Gordon acting as a makeshift centre forward in both games. 

Newcastle’s lack of a recognised forward could continue to haunt them during a busy December period and although Isak is close to match fitness, the same can not be said of Wilson who is set to miss around six weeks with a hamstring problem, according to reports.

Such news has prompted speculation of further reinforcements in the striker role - which will be a necessity in the later stages of the season, particularly if the Magpies are still competing on all fronts in Europe and in the cups.

One familiar name that is resurfacing in the rumour mill is PSG outcast Hugo Ekitike. The French forward first captured the interest of Eddie Howe in January 2022 when he enjoyed a strong breakout campaign with Reims - scoring 10 in 24 appearances.

Ekitike is a promising talent who is renowned for his pace and ability to score goals - but he turned down a move to the Magpies that winter due to the club’s precarious position at the bottom of the league table. Six months later, the Magpies returned with further interest and a £26m fee was even agreed between Newcastle and Reims for the player’s transfer - only for the deal to fall through due to agent demands.

The young French forward eventually opted for a move to Ligue 1 giants PSG, where it was hoped he would serve as an understudy to Kylian Mbappe. Ekitike was a peripheral player last season in the capital and scored three goals in 25 appearances, with the majority of those coming from the subs bench.

However, the young forward has largely been frozen out by new boss Luis Enrique who failed to include the striker in his Champions League squad. The Shields Gazette explains that the 21-year-old turned down the opportunity to join Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt after Randal Kolo Muani left the club to join PSG in the summer.

Ekitike was also subject to Premier League interest from the likes of West Ham, Nottingham Forest and Everton but a move failed to materialise. Overall Ekitike has played just eight minutes of first team football this season and the striker has not featured once since the end of the transfer window.

Despite multiple setbacks, Football Insider understands that Newcastle are hoping to land the player on a loan deal in January.

West Ham are also expected to emerge with a rival bid.